What is Kiro?
Kiro is Amazon's entry into agentic coding: instead of just autocompleting code, it turns a natural-language prompt into an executable spec - requirements, design docs, implementation tasks - then writes the code, runs tests, and flags bugs unit tests would miss. It runs the same agent across an IDE, CLI, web browser, and mobile app, so a session started on a laptop can keep running in the cloud and be picked up anywhere.
Key features
- Prompt-to-spec workflow: requirements, architecture, and tasks generated before code
- Parallel agents that work across large codebases and learn from prior sessions
- Same agent available in IDE, CLI, web (with cloud sandboxes), and mobile
- Built on Amazon Bedrock, giving access to multiple frontier and open-weight models
- Enterprise controls: IAM/SSO, usage dashboards, IP indemnity, governance
- Compatible with VS Code extensions and settings
How to get started
- Download Kiro for macOS, Windows, or Linux, or sign in on the web
- Log in with GitHub, Google, or an AWS account (no AWS account required)
- Describe a feature; review the generated spec before Kiro writes code
- Let Kiro implement tasks, run tests, and iterate; review diffs as you go
- Close your laptop and check progress later from the web or mobile app
Kiro pricing
Kiro uses a credit system with no rate limits - you buy capacity, not a seat. Free includes 50 credits and Claude Sonnet access with limits; Pro through Power scale credits from 1,000 to 10,000 per month, with pay-as-you-go add-on credits available.
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Trying Kiro, light usage |
| Pro | $20/mo | Individual daily use (1,000 credits) |
| Pro+ | $40/mo | Heavier individual use (2,000 credits) |
| Pro Max | $100/mo | Power users (5,000 credits) |
| Power | $200/mo | Teams needing the highest limits (10,000 credits) |
Our take: The spec-first workflow is a real differentiator for anyone who has been burned by an agent quietly going off-plan - worth trying even if you already use Cursor or Copilot.
Prices verified 2026-09. Plans change often — confirm on the official site above before you buy.
Use cases
- Teams wanting a documented spec trail before code gets written
- Delegating well-defined tasks to run in the cloud while you work on something else
- Enterprises needing AWS-grade governance and IP indemnity around AI coding
- Developers who want to pick a specific frontier model per task instead of one fixed model
Kiro vs. alternatives
| Tool | How it compares |
|---|---|
| Kiro | AWS's agentic IDE that turns a prompt into specs, architecture, code, and tests before you write a line. |
| Cursor | Cursor is a more editor-centric AI coding tool; Kiro leans harder into upfront specs and cloud-run agent sessions. |
| Devin | Devin is a similar fully autonomous coding agent, positioned more as a "hire an AI engineer" product. |
| Claude Code | Claude Code is terminal-first and model-locked to Claude, versus Kiro's multi-model, multi-surface approach. |
FAQ
Is Kiro free to use?
Kiro's plans: Free tier (50 credits), paid Pro/Pro+/Pro Max/Power from $20/mo. Pricing and free-tier limits change over time, so check the official site above for the latest details.
What is Kiro used for?
AWS's agentic IDE that turns a prompt into specs, architecture, code, and tests before you write a line.
Who is Kiro best for?
Kiro is a good fit for teams wanting a documented spec trail before code gets written, or delegating well-defined tasks to run in the cloud while you work on something else.
What are the alternatives to Kiro?
Commonly compared alternatives include Cursor, Devin, and Claude Code, see the comparison above for how they differ.
How much does Kiro cost?
Kiro's Free tier includes 50 one-time credits. Paid plans run $20 to $200 per month for 1,000 to 10,000 monthly credits, with $0.04 pay-as-you-go add-on credits once you exceed your plan. GovCloud pricing runs about 20% higher and has no free tier.
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DLast updated: 2026-09 · Reviewed by AIKetra editors · How we evaluate tools · Embed a Featured badge